Vacancies for private practice lawyers across the South East have risen by 36% month-on-month according to survey data from specialist legal recruiter Clayton Legal.

According to the firm, the rise in advertised positions can largely be attributed to the high cost of buying property in London which has forced many buyers out to areas where property is more affordable. This, in turn, has resulted in increased demand for residential conveyancing professionals across the South East.

The survey which was compiled based on the recruiter’s comprehensive data on advertised roles, also showed that residential conveyancing paralegals, assistants and solicitors have been the most sought after professionals. Furthermore, data from Clayton also reveals that solicitors and paralegals specialising in family law were also in demand across the South East region.

“It’s perhaps unsurprising that vacancy levels in the region are rising, the capital has long been unaffordable for many individuals to live and work in the city,” Lynn Sedgwick, Managing Director at Clayton Legal said. “Consequently many have moved out-either to get on the property ladder or to upsize, and purchased in towns with a manageable commute. This has resulted in law firms in the South East specialising in residential property increasingly needing to bolster their conveyancing teams. Consequently, legal professionals in this area are not only highly sought after, but they are also able to command lucrative packages as firms grapple for the very best talent.”